“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
Galatians 5:22 NLT
Have you ever had a friend who is always late? You have to wait at least 30 minutes for them. In that moment, you try to remind yourself that patience is a virtue. So you take a deep breath and keep waiting. This kind of patience is great, but it’s not the only one to be considered.
As we’ve learnt the fruits of the Holy Spirit are the evidence of His work in our lives. Asides from the patience required to be polite, the Spirit of God works out a different type of patience in us, one that reflects absolute trust in God such that when things do not appear to go the way we choose, we are content to wait on God, doing His bidding, knowing that He is in control.
One of the major ways this patience manifests is in evangelism. We will come across people that will not believe the Gospel immediately after it is presented to them and may even be hostile to it but the Holy Spirit empowers us to not give up. That love we have by the Spirit enables us to be patient with such people.
Just as God is patient with the world, you can be patient with those who do not believe in the gospel, who are still blinded by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Peter 3:9). You are able to extend the same grace that was shown to you as you spend time praying for them, caring and reiterating the Gospel to their hearing.
Another way we can manifest this patience is in the fulfilment of God’s will for our lives while on earth. It takes patience by the Spirit to wait when God says to, especially when we have already received a word from God. Patience is trusting in God’s will and His timing.
Jesus, our perfect example demonstrated this. He already could teach the scribes as early as age 12 (Luke 2:49), but because it wasn’t yet the appointed time for His ministry He waited eighteen more years all the while in obedience to His earthly parents (Luke 2:51).
These times of waiting might not be pleasant but with the help of the Holy Spirit as we study the Bible, pray, pour our hearts to God, and draw strength from the gathering of believers, we see that our dependence on God grows and we are increased in our capacity, growing from grace to grace.
Apostle Paul reminds the church in Colossae and by extension us to, “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV
Dear believer, patience is a fruit of your born-again spirit. Perhaps you are in a waiting season, the word of God to you today is to be patient. You can be patient because you have the patience-bearing Spirit in you. In every adversity, you have the ability to be patient and trust God.
Bible Reading Plan: 2 Samuel 19-21, Psalms 5